Sandro Tonali helped guide Italy to victory over Estonia in World Cup qualifying action on Saturday night.
The Newcastle United midfielder played the full 90 minutes as Italy won 3-1, with goals coming from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui and Francesco Pio Esposito.
The win leaves Sandro Tonali and co in second place in Group I, six points behind Norway. It will be difficult for Italy to overtake Norway, with the two sides set to meet in Milan on 16th November.
Before then, the Azzurri face Israel (14th October) and Moldova (13th November), as Gennaro Gattuso aims to take Italy to their first World Cup since 2014.
Tonali will be desperate for his country to qualify, and he played his part in a pivotal victory over Estonia on Saturday.
Photo by Claudio Villa – FIGC/FIGC via Getty Images
The 25-year-old was deployed in centre-midfield alongside Nicolo Barella, with the Italian media seriously impressed with Tonali’s performance in Tallinn.
Sky Italia gave the Magpies’ number eight a rating of 6.5, describing him as a ‘warrior’ in the middle of the park.
They wrote: “He is the engine of the Azzurri midfield: he grinds kilometers from start to finish and tries to deliver balls into the opponent’s area. He lacks the illuminating pass, but he has a dam of opponents in front of him and it becomes mandatory to pass on the wings. In the scrum, on the volley, he hits well but hits the goalkeeper. Warrior.”
Elsewhere, Corriere Della Sera gave Tonali 7/10, admitting he was much better than his midfield partner Barella.
They wrote: “More direct in his touches and dynamic than Barella, he also tests the goalkeeper’s hold.”
Sportmediaset handed Tonali a rating of 6.5, having previously praised Barella for sewing ‘the game with tranquility’.
Comparing Tonali to Barella, they wrote: “The same goes for his teammate, but he puts in the usual bursts that split Estonia’s defence in two. In the defensive phase he is always ready to help the central players.”
Finally, Football Italia gave Tonali 8.5/10 and wrote: “Italy had a few strong performers tonight but the Newcastle United man was in a league of his own today. Harking back to the iconic Italian centre-mids of yore, the 25-year-old showed his class this evening.”
Sandro Tonali is just as good for Italy as he is for Newcastle United
Tonali is one of the Premier League’s best midfielders right now. He is incredibly reliable in black and white, always proving to be a contender for player of the match in every game he plays.
The £55million man is so consistent, both for club and country. Ever since returning from his ban, Tonali has been the immovable object in the Italy starting XI. He has been a consistent presence in a side that has so often struggled to live up to the hype.
Tonali is attempting to drag his country to the World Cup, just like he helped drag Newcastle United to glory last season. He is arguably Eddie Howe’s most important player, with Alan Shearer calling Tonali a ‘beast’ for the Magpies.
He was a ‘warrior’ for Italy on Saturday night, as they picked up a vital three points away from home in the race to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.